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China's space programme

China's space programme
The China National Space Administration was founded more than 25 years ago and is overseeing an ambitious programme which includes deep space exploration, a manned space station, and cutting-edge advancements in technology, new materials, robotics and artificial intelligence.
Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, conveys Mid-Autumn Festival wishes to residents from aboard the Tiangong space station. Photo: Handout
Lai Ka-ying delivers a live lecture from space to students and teachers at her alma mater. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong astronaut Lai Ka-ying sends Mid-Autumn Festival wishes to residents

In Mandarin speech recorded aboard China’s Tiangong space station, city’s first astronaut thanks well-wishers and expresses longing and affection for home.

Science

China gets closer to Jupiter mission by bringing Nasa’s StarNAV concept to life

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US-China tech war

In Focus | China’s rocket recovery was a space race milestone. Is a relaunch within reach?

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Hainan

In Focus | How China is turning Hainan from a tourist island into a major aerospace hub

Factories, supercomputing centres and satellite businesses are springing up in the province as officials push to build a fully fledged aerospace ecosystem.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
United States

US has weapons deployed in orbit, Space Force says

US acknowledges offensive and defensive capabilities against potential ‘hostile adversary action’.

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Space

Editorial | Hong Kong astronaut can help propel the city’s science and tech ambitions

Lai Ka-ying’s achievement should serve as the launch pad of a sustained push that makes science and innovation the new engine of the city’s development.

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Hong Kong society

‘Keep pushing, never fear hardships,’ Hong Kong’s first astronaut tells students

Students ask about AI, robots and animal tests in space as Lai Ka-ying, and crewmates Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan take part in ‘Tiangong Class’.

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Astronaut Lai Ka-ying exercises in the space station. Photo: RTHK
Students watch the live lecture by astronaut Lai Ka-ying from space. Photo: Sam Tsang
John Lee, attends the “Tiangong Class”. Photo: ISD
Lai Ka-ying is Hong Kong’s first astronaut. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s first astronaut to give live space lecture to students on Wednesday

Lai Ka-ying will take part in ‘Tiangong Class’, which will feature expert lecture, in-orbit demonstrations and question-and-answer session.

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China’s private sector

Can China catch SpaceX? New commercial reusable rocket takes to the skies

The orbital mission marks a key milestone for Beijing’s commercial launch sector.

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Aerospace: Industry Trends

As China-US space race heats up, Shanghai unveils space-computing hub

Songjiang is already a vital link in China’s satellite supply chain as home to SpaceSail, the low-Earth-orbit challenger to SpaceX’s Starlink.

The SpaceSail booth at an exhibition in Shanghai, on June 24, 2026. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Chinese reusable rocket’s success unlocks opportunities for Hong Kong

Flurry of commercial activity offers opportunities for Hong Kong’s financial markets, research universities and the Northern Metropolis.

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This video screenshot shows the first stage of the Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket successfully completing its land-based recovery on August 19. Photo: LandSpace/Handout via Xinhua
United States

Trump orders creation of US ‘Space Academy’, amid rivalry with China

The institution, which will train civilian and military recruits, will be modelled on the famous military school at West Point.

China’s private sector

China’s commercial space sector expands global footprint with Thailand deal

GalaxySpace describes mission as first turnkey satellite export to a Southeast Asian customer by a Chinese commercial space company.

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Space

Moon mission delay a hiccup, but there’s no stopping Chinese rocket city’s rise

Rocket launches transform Wenchang from a farming community to a booming space city, drawing tourists and skilled workers in droves.

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The Long March 5 rocket is seen at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. Photo: Nora Tam
LandSpace

Meet Dai Zheng, the space veteran betting on China’s reusable rocket revolution

LandSpace’s rocket booster recovery has supercharged the country’s commercial space ambitions – and validated a former state engineer’s start-up gamble.

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Dai Zheng of LandSpace in a CCTV interview broadcast on August 20. Photo: CCTV
US-China relations

Opinion | China’s view of Trump’s America has changed from alarm to a shrug

Erratic and transactional, the US leader’s approach exposes domestic governance flaws and the limits of Washington’s containment strategy.

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Hong Kong science and tech

Hong Kong-built greenhouse gas tracker device ‘functioning well’ on space station

Tech minister Sun Dong says Multi‑Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory has ‘successfully captured images with good clarity’.

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China’s private sector

China clears Geely for landmark satellite test to spur commercial space drive

Geespace secures a two-year satellite IoT trial from MIIT, the first approval for a private Chinese firm.

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A rendering of Geespace’s push to deploy proprietary orbital networks. Photo: Handout
SpaceX

Editorial | As the space race heats up, China’s momentum is undeniable

LandSpace’s successful recovery of the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket is a milestone that underlines China’s aerospace ambitions.

US-China tech war

SpaceSail’s record funding fuels China’s satellite challenge to Musk’s Starlink

Company pairs landmark capital with rapid satellite deployment and overseas expansion as China’s private aerospace sector breaks new ground.

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Science

China joins Musk’s SpaceX with reusable rocket breakthroughs

LandSpace’s success in landing a rocket, following CASC’s achievement last month, may help launch space missions more cheaply and more frequently.

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket takes off. Photo: CNS Photo via Reuters
Science

China becomes first to recover orbital launch rockets with 2 distinct paths

Zhuque-3 reaches orbit and has its first stage recovered, pulling off a dual-track strategy even the US has yet to execute.

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In a global first, leading Chinese commercial rocket company LandSpace has recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable rockets. Photo: CCTV
Mainland China

Opinion | Where does China’s fourth rocket failure in 2026 leave its busy space schedule?

Does Beijing have time to fully investigate the year’s fourth rocket failure or will launch schedules force rapid returns to service?

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Trending in China

Ex-factory worker and engineer to make history as one of China’s first space passengers

When asked why she desires to travel to space at the age of 73, Huang simply stated that she just wants ‘to take a look’.

China's military weapons

China’s latest rocket failure prompts questions about ambitious launch schedule

Long March-7A explodes less than 90 seconds into flight, delaying ChinaSat-4B satellite installation and possibly affecting other programmes.

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A Long March-7A rocket explodes shortly after lifting off from Wenchang, Hainan province, on Monday night. Photo: Social media screenshot
US-China relations

Crawfish soup on Mars? US Senate hears worries over China’s scientific ambitions

Republicans point to Beijing’s rising research spending, while Democrats warn Trump’s funding cuts could erode America’s ability to compete.

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A Chinese researcher’s colourful anecdote about serving spicy crawfish soup to astronauts on Mars has been used in a US Senate hearing to highlight concerns over China’s scientific ambitions. Photo: Shutterstock
Space

Editorial | With its innovative rocket recovery, China makes strides in the space race

Beijing’s breakthrough is likely to advance its ambitions in the cosmos and enhance global connectivity and economic growth.

Aerospace: Geopolitics

How is China hunting hidden space rocks that could ‘devastate a small country’?

Beijing will use ground telescopes and orbital satellites to track dangerous space rocks that currently go undetected.

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